Headlight



May s, 1928. 1,668,679

G. E. HOWE HEADLIGHT @1166 May 6. .1925

INVENTOR Patented May 8, 1928. j

PATENT OFFICE.

. GEORGE .E. ows, ornoarrr r Amr rELn, NEW JERSEY.

HEADLIGHT.

Application filed May 6, 1925. Serial No. 28,312.

as are used on motor vehicles The objects of the invention are to-elimihate the objectionable glare ordinarily produced by such lights, light values by di usion,refraotion or in other ways heretofore attempted; to concentrate the main light on the road and a lesser but suflicient illumination for the sidesof the road andto accomplish these desiredresults with a simple, inexpensive-and entirely prac tical apparatus, readilyapplicable to existing lighting structures.

The foregoing and other objects are attained in part by a novel form of reflector embodying an upper parabolic section for concentrating the light in a forwardly extending beam, a substantially crescent shaped lower reflector for directing the lower rays from the light source upwardly into the main parabolic section and a substantially upright crescent shaped reflector interposed between the parabolic and bottom reflectors for directing a portion of the light This invention relates toheadlights such rays immediately ahead and to the sides of the roadway.

Various other novel features of the invention will appear as the specification proceeds.

In the drawing accompanying and forming part of this specification, one of the practical commercial embodiments of theinvention is illustrated but is should be understood that the structure may be modified in various respects without departure from the broad spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter defined and claimed.

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional View of the invention as in actual use.

Figure 2 is a front View of the reflector.

Experience has proved that the objectionable and dangerous glare caused by most headlights is usually produced by the lower half of the reflector which in actual practise often has the efi'ect of throwing the light upwardly and directly into the eyes of oncoming drivers. The present invention takes recognition of. this fact and involves the utilization of the upper useful section of the reflector and the replacement of the'lower objectionable section of the reflector by refleeting walls which have no such effect but which do conserve the light and throw it all to useful purpose.

In the special reflector illustrated, the upper section 5 is termed the parabolic section, being designedto concentrate the upper rays tending beam,

without sacrificing the a from the light source 6 in a forwardly exas lndlcated. This section is shown as terminating on a line 7 extending from points 8 at the rim of the reflector substantially on a level with the focal center downwardly to a point 9 somewhat below the center lof the reflector, leaving a small segment -101below the focal center tapering into the .rim of thereflector.

From the loweredge of the parabolic up per section a substantially upright reflecting. wall .11 extends down to therearward edge 1520f anupwardly facing reflecting wall 13.

The lower reflecting section as shown in the front view forms substantially a continuation of the circular rim of the complete reflector being deepest at the lowermost point and extending from a substantially horlzont-al position at such point upwardly into substantially vertical position at the sides of the same. The rear reflector similarly is deep est at the center, tapering gradually to the rim of the reflector and standing substantially vertically or inclined slightly toward the rear throughout its full length.

The effect of these two substantially crescent shaped reflecting surfaces is indicated diagrammatically in the several views, from which it will be seen that the bottom section 13 extending about the lower rim of the reflector catches practically all of the lower rays from the light source and reflects them into the upper section where they are concentrated and transmitted into a brilliant forwardly and downwardly projected beam. This lower section, which is substantially entirely out of line of vision of the approaching motorist, thus serves to conserve and concentrate the light into useful efi'ort without producing any glare.

The reflector is set so that the concentrated forward beam projected by the upper socalled parabolic section is directed onto the road at the proper distance ahead, the angle being such as to prevent any glare effect from this section.

The reflector is of symmetrical form and as it need be no deeper than the parabolic section, it can be mounted in the so-called drum headlight casings now in use and and transmitting them to the upper reflector extent is limited to about that shown.

WVhat is claimed is:

In apparatus of the character disclosed, a reflector of completely circular outline at the front to match a standard circular lens and comprising an upper parabolic section,

a forwardly facing substantially vertical re-- flector section extending downwardly from substantially the axial plane of the upper section, a lower upwardly facing substantially horizontal section having its forward edge merging into and forming a continuation of the circularrim portion of the upper section, ing into the circular rim between the lower edge of the upper section and the rearward the forwardly facing section mergedge of the lower section, the line of connection between the upper and intermediate reflector sections extending from substantially the axis at the rim of the reflector downwardly to a point below the focal center and said intermediate section being substantially crescent shaped to match said lower edge of the parabolic section and the rearward edge of the lower section, said lower section being deepest at the center and also of substantially crescent shape, the line of connection between the rear edge of the lower section and the lower edge of the intermediate section extending downwardly and to the rear on an are substantially conforming to the outline of the lower half of the circular rim.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 4th day of May, 1925.

GEORGE vE. HOWE. 

